Faculty

Studies various neuronal cell death mediators, including cell cycle proteins, ceramide, endocannabinoids, BH3 domain pro-apoptotic factors and PARP. He also examines the protective effects of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, as well as caspase inhibitors, in multiple in vitro and in vivo models.

Studies the pathophysiological role of beta amyloid in brain trauma, as well as a protective role for secretase inhibition. Also examines role of microglial associated inflammation in chronic and age-related neurodegeneration and therapeutic strategies that inhibit microglial-mediated neuroinflammation. Experimental approaches include rodent models of TBI, cell and molecular biology, behavioral testing, MRI imaging and quantitative histology.

Examines secondary injury processes following traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and pharmacological/gene therapeutic interventions for SCI. More specifically, studies the pathophysiological role of cell cycle activation in SCI using complementary genetic and pharmacological strategies. Also studies nocifensive behaviors and central pain regulation after experimental SCI, and the role of mitochondrial DNA in cell death.

Autophagy, a catabolic process mediating the turnover of bulk cytoplasmic constituents including organelles and protein aggregates in a lysosome-dependent manner, protects organisms from a variety of diseases, including neurodegeneration, cancer and aging. Up-regulation of autophagy has also been observed following traumatic brain injury (TBI), but its function in this context remains unknown. My lab uses in vivo and in vitro models to examine the role of autophagy after traumatic injury, and to delineate the molecular mechanisms involved. Since mitochondrial damage plays an important role in neurodegeneration associated with both TBI and Parkinson’s disease (PD), and prior head injury is a well-established epidemiological factor for PD, we are also examining the potential role in TBI of genes known to be involved in the regulation of mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) in PD. Our long-term goal is to define novel druggable target molecules and pathways for the effective modulation of autophagy in TBI and other neurodegenerative diseases.